Zelenskyy backs Naftogaz head Sergii Koretskyi for Ukraine prime minister

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has nominated Sergii Koretskyi, the head of Ukraine’s state energy company Naftogaz, to become Ukraine’s next prime minister as a broader government reshuffle gathers pace and former Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov’s dismissal triggers rare public protests during wartime. Parliament accepted Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko’s resignation earlier this week after just a year in office, and speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk said on Wednesday that Zelenskyy had formally put forward Koretskyi’s candidacy. Fedorov, who had served as defense minister for six months and earlier led the Ministry of Digital Transformation, said in a social media farewell that it was a “great honor to serve the Ukrainian people.” His exit drew hundreds of protesters into Kyiv and other cities on July 16, reflecting concern that Ukraine could lose momentum in military technology and drone warfare. Fedorov had become a central figure in Ukraine’s tech-driven war effort. During his time overseeing digital transformation, he helped channel nearly $100 million in cryptocurrency donations to support Ukraine’s military, one of the biggest examples of digital assets being used in an active geopolitical conflict. He also pressed major crypto exchanges to block Russian users and pushed for a clearer legal framework for digital assets in Ukraine. Battlefield commanders had credited his drone programs with operational successes, and protesters said his removal could disrupt the technological gains Ukraine has built during the war. Zelenskyy has presented the reshuffle as part of Ukraine’s wartime reorganization, with priorities including winter preparedness and efforts to secure a ceasefire. But the administration has given no public explanation for Fedorov’s removal, leaving uncertainty over whether his departure was voluntary or forced and putting fresh attention on whether crypto fundraising and military tech initiatives will continue at the same pace under new leadership.